YOU can take a lot from Russia; it has lost plenty already: cash, empire, territory, clout. Russia is tough; it survives undaunted.

Moscow is holding its ground despite sharp criticism, writes Paul McGeough.

Robert Gates, the US Defence Secretary, puts a positive spin on the refusal of the United States to get involved in a military confrontation with Russia. It is, according to him, because the US has spent decades trying to avoid military confrontation with the very unreasonable Russians.

THE Opals Australian womens basketball team play the last game of the preliminary round this weekend against the strong Russians.

SYDNEY Games gold medallist Natalie Cook and partner Tamsin Barnett began the beach volleyball competition with a tough three-set victory over Russians Natalia Uryadova and Alexandra Shiryaeva at the Chaoyang Park stadium yesterday.